The Levels of Questions: Level One, Two and Three:

Knowledge Comprehension and Application

Scholar Benjamin Bloom described six levels of thinking, from low to high. The six levels
of questions make people think about a topic on each of these levels. We will use
examples from the story Hungbu and Nolbu, and the topic of Blood Types.

The lowest three levels of thinking in Bloomʼs taxonomy are knowledge and
comprehension, and application.

Knowledge questions focus on facts and details. Theyʼre usually close-ended.

What came out of Hungbuʼs gourd? Was Hungbu poor? What is your blood type?

Choose your favorite topic from class so far. Think of two knowledge questions about it.

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Comprehension questions look at a bigger picture than knowledge questions, and show
an understanding of something. Many 5W questions are in level 2.
Why was there no gold in Nolbuʼs gourd? What does the story of Hungbu and Nolbu
teach? What are features of your blood type? Why donʼt scientists like blood typing?

Think of two comprehension questions about the same article.

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Application questions look at the big picture, and then make connections, or find patterns.
Chart the storyʼs beginning, middle and end. Contrast the two brothersʼ personalities.
Describe personality traits you have that do or donʼt match your blood typeʼs character.
Guess which people in your class are blood type A, B, AB, and O.

Think of two application questions about the same article.

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Choose a hot topic that was in the news over the last year. Write questions about that
topic on these three levels. Ask your questions to a partner: see what happens.

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Worksheet by Rob Ouwehand

The Levels of Questions: Levels Four, Five, and Six:
Analysis, Synthesis and Evaluation
Scholar Benjamin Bloom described six levels of thinking, from low to high. The six levels
of questions make people think about a topic on each of these levels. We will use
examples from the story Hungbu and Nolbu, and the topic of Blood Types.

Analysis questions use understanding of one area to think about other areas. You can
make general topics more personal, or make personal topics more general.
Think of another story with the same moral as H&N; how does it teach the lesson?
Why do you think people like using blood types to understand othersʼ personalities?

Choose your favorite article from this class so far. Think of two analysis questions about it.

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Synthesis questions take the ideas you have learned and use them in a totally new way.
Often they put the ideas or lessons into a new context. This includes hypothetical
situations “what if?” questions and all kinds of creative tasks.
Re-write the story as if it happened in modern Korea. Draw a picture of the story.
What would Hungbu and Nolbuʼs father say to each son, if he could talk to them?
Invent a set of rules that will predict somebodyʼs character by the shape of their nose.
Create a fairy tale or myth that could explain the origin of the Blood Type Myth.

Think of two synthesis questions about the same article.

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Evaluation questions ask you to take everything youʼve learned about the topic, and make
a choice: words like judge, measure, compare, make recommendations, debate, pros/
cons, rank, criticize, and defend appear in evaluation questions.
Write a review for the story and describe the type of audience that would enjoy this book.
Compare this story with two other Korean folk tales: which best describes Korean culture?
Rank these ways of judging a personʼs character, from least to most useful: blood type,
hometown, university, birth year, parentsʼ job, hair color, lines on hand, favorite music.

Think of two evaluation questions about the same article:

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Choose a hot topic that was in the news over the last year. Write questions about that
topic on these three levels. Ask your questions to a partner: see what happens.

Worksheet by Rob Ouwehand